Improvement in mowing-machines



. ZSheeis--Sheetl W'. F. CUCHRANE.

l Mowing-M'achines. N0. \57,7Q5, Patented Dec. 15,1874.

WITNESSES INVEJVIQR 74Cfoc/ra/faeY By v MJU# Zoli Attorneys.

THE GRAPHIC C0. PHOYO-LITFLBBR H PARK PL CE,N.Y.

Nrr-ED STA-rens N WILLIAM F. GOCHRANE, OF LA FAYETTE, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN NIOWING-MACHINES.

Specification forming partof Letters Patent No. 157,795, dated December15, 1874 application filed March 6, 1874.

CASE E.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WiLLIAMF. GOGHRANE, ofLa Fayette, in the county ofTippecanoe and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Harvesting-Machincs; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part of thisspecification, in which v Figure l, Sheet I, is a longitudinal sectionof the harvester, looking toward the outer driving-wheel. Fig. 2, SheetI, is a similar.

section looking toward the inner drivingwheel. Fig. 3, Sheet II, is atop-plan view. Fig. 4, Sheet II, is a perspective view of the sleeve andsocket for connecting the drag-bar to the main frame; and Fig. 5, SheetII, is a transverse section of the saine.

Similar letters of reference in the accompanying drawings denote thesame parts.

My invention relates to a harvesting-machine, in which the main frame issuspended from the foot-board by an adjustable t-ractionlatch pivoted tothe frame at a point between the main axle and counter-shaft, and itconsists in the method of jointing the forward end of the drag-bar tothe suspended main frame of the machine, as I will presently describe.

In the accompanying drawings, A A are the side pieces of the main frame,enlarged vertically near the center for the formation of segmental slotsB, through which the main axle D passes to receive the driving orsupporting wheels of the machine. The side pieces are slipped over theends of the axle and connected by suitable crossgirders, as shown. Theframe thus formed is prevented from lateral movement on the axle bycollars C, keyed thereto between the side pieces; and these collars arecast with segmental pinions to engage with segmental racks cast on theshort arcs ofthe segmental slots in the side pieces. E E are thedriving-pinions, mounted on the ends of a counter-shaft, G, which hasits bearings in the side pieces in front of the main axle, so that thepinions shall mesh into the internally-toothed rims of thedriving-wheels.

The pinions may be connected to the countershaft by spring-pawls, andthe driving-wheels revolve on the axle independently of each other, inthe usual manner. H is the beveled gearing for communicating motion tothe pitman-shaft, which has its bearings in a pipebox, I, extendinglongitudinally to the rear of the frame. The counter-shaft and itsgearing I designate as the gear-center of the machine, and it is locatedentirely in front of the main axle. The segmental slots in the sidepieces are described upon the arc ofa circle whose radius is from theaxis of the counter-shaft. The frame therefore is allowed to rise andfall freely upon the axle, turning on the drivingpinions as the centerof motion. J is the footboard or tongue-bracket, carrying the driversseat and draft-pole, and mounted upon the main axle so as to projectforward thereof over the front end of the frame. K is the tractionlatch,composed of a short bar pivoted at its lower end to a cross-bolt of theframe between the main axle and gear-center, and extending up through alongitudinal slot, Z, formed in the foot-board, where it is pivoted to aclutchblock, m. The clutch block is formed with ratchet-teeth on oneside, to engage with corresponding teeth cast on the foot-board roundthe slot I, for the purpose of holding the tractionlatch at any desiredpoint within the length of the slot. By means of the tractionlatch thewhole frame is adjustably suspended from the foot-board at a pointbetween the gear-center and main axle, while the segmental slots in theside pieces allow it to rise and fall freely, the axle turning for thispurpose as a rook-shaft. N is the operating-lever, attached to the axleto raise and lower the main frame through the medium of the segmentalracks and pinions, so that the position of the traction-latch upon thefoot-board may be adjusted for the purpose of suspending the frame therequisite distance above the ground. O is the drag-bar, jointed at itsforward end to the end of a girder, P, projecting laterally from themain frame in front of the inner driving-wheel. Q is the finger-bar,bolted to the drag-bar shoe, and carrying the divider and grain-wheel Rat its outer end, the grainwheel being arranged in a line to the rear ofthe finger-bar.

The joint of the drag-bar is constructed in the following manner: S is asocket bolted to the end of the girder, and cast with` two conicalthimbles, t, one over vthe other. U is a short sleeve, cast with ahollow journal, V, upon one side, to enter one ofthe conical thimbles,where it is held by the bolt and nut W. The sleeve is further cast withan openin g through one side,in line with the hollow journal, and withasquared internal recess at the base of the latter. The bolt is passedthrough this opening into the journal, and its head enters the squaredrecess, to prevent it from turning while the nut is being tightened. Thecombination of the bolt and journal forms a strong pivot-fastening forthe forward end of the drag-bar. The through-bolt of the drag-bar isfitted in the sleeve, and prevented from slipping out by the conicalwasher and pin x, as shown. By this construction ofthe joint thedrag-bar has a radial movement on the hollow journal, and a rockingmovement within the sleeve, while the conical form of the thimblespermits the necessary play of the joints.

A is the extension-bar, bolted firmly to the upper side ot' the drag-barshoe in rear of the cutter, and extending inward behind the main frame,where it is suspended by a chain from the outer end of a bracket, B',which projects upward and to the rear of the frame, at or near the innercorner.

By the employment of the drag-bar and extension-bar for connecting thecutting mechanism to the suspended iiexible main frame, such frame an dcutting mechanism are adapted to oscillate upon an axis extendingobliquely through them from the traction-latch to the grain-wheel, thedegree of oscillation being regulated by the operating-lever and the adjustment of the traction-latch, while the oscillations are guided by thedriving-pinions and the segmental slot in the frame.

C is the radius-bar, pivoted at one end to the rear of the frame,parallel, or nearly so, with the pitman-shaft, and at its opposite endto the drag-bar shoe, in rear of the extensionbar, and in line with theaxis of the drag-bar. The radius-bar acts as a backbrace for thedrag-bar and cutting mechanism, and, by oscillating about a point inline with the center of motion of the pitman D', the throw of thelatter, and the consequent movement of the cutter through the guards,are rendered uniform during the oscillations and various adjustments ofthe cutting apparatus and main fra-me.

E is the reel, supported by a post upon the drag-bar, and driven fromthe main axle of the machine. F is the dropper, provided with thegrain-rod used therewith.

These several parts may be of the kind ordinarily employed, or they maybe of the special construction for which I have applied for LettersPatent.

When the machine is in motion, the upward movement of the main frame atits front end is limited by contact with the outer side of thedraft-pole or tongue-bracket, to prevent the rear end from dropping toolow; but the weight of the latter is partially taken up by the downwardpull of the drivingwheels upon the pinions. The preponderance of weight,however, is at the rear end. The oscillations of the frame and cuttingapparatus about the oblique axis, above described, permit them to ridefreely over obstructions, whether in the path of the frame orcutter-bar, and the jointed connection of the drag-bar and extension-barwith the suspended frame permits the cutting apparatus to follow theundulations of the ground.

By lengthening or shortening the chain of the extension-bar, the cuttingmechanism is raised or lowered independently of the main frame, for thepurpose of carrying it above the plane of the frame, for cutting verytall grain, or for dropping it below the plane of the frame when themachine is operating upon very uneven ground.

By operating the lever N the frame is raised or lowered through thetraction-latch, and the cutting mechanism may be rocked on the obliqueaxis to raise the shoe of the dragbar over an obstruction, or depressthe point of the divider to enter a hollow or gather lodged grain.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. rlhethimble-socket S t and the journalsleeve and bolt, for jointing theforward end of the drag-bar to the front girder of the main frame,substantially as described.

2.. The socket S, cast with the conical thimbles t, one over the other,substantially as described.

3. The sleeve U, cast with the hollow journal V, the opening through theside in line with the journal, and the square internal recess at thebase of the journal, substantially as described.

WM. F. COOHRANE.

Witnesses:

E. A. ELLswoRTH, N. K. ELLswon'rH.

